NH Humane Society Adoptathon at Belknap Mall a success

The New Hampshire Humane Society made a smart two-day move from Meredith Center Road to the Belknap Mall on the Daniel Webster Highway in Belmont.

The society brought a dozen and a half dogs ready for adoption. There were what appeared to be twice that number of cats and kittens, also ready to be placed in new homes.

A staff of a dozen or more volunteers was ready to help ‘Black Friday’ shoppers have what couldn’t be a happier experience — taking a puppy or a kitten home as part of an early holiday experience.

And the people came — in droves, it seemed.

One couple was back at the ‘shelter in the mall’ for the second or third time to make the final decision on adopting a really cute brown and black long-haired terrier mix. At three months old, the small female was attracting a lot of attention.

There were the usual black and yellow lab mixes. An all-white husky with different colored eyes appeared to be headed to a new home in Holderness, and the final decision on the adoption yellow lab mix by a Gilford family awaited a socialization encounter with the family’s at-home pooch on Saturday morning.

What seemed like scores of cats and kittens were segregated from the dogs in the small offices of what used to be a real estate office. In those smaller rooms, there were a number of intense parent-child conversations about whether the family should adopt one of the really ‘cute and cuddly’ kittens.

According to Mary G. Di Maria, the interim Executive Director of the NH Humane Society, the organization brought 17 dogs to the Lakes Region from so-called ‘kill shelters’ in Alabama and other southern locations just for this special Adopt-A-Thon event.

“New Hampshire is a great dog state,” she said. “People here simply love their dogs and are willing to absorb more four legged creatures into their lives. Were it not for us putting on an event like this, these wonderful creatures would not be alive today.”

By mid-afternoon, it appeared the project had been a major success. Of the 17 canines available for adoption, only two or three were still waiting for the right people to come along to provide them with a new home. Many of the cats and kittens were also off to new homes.

The Adopt-A-Thon continues today at the mall, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located in the east end of the building (facing towards Laconia) in the space next to Pet Paradise. There is an outside entrance. The Humane Society Adaptation is also accessible from inside the Mall. Use the entrance next to Blockbuster.

Dog adoption fees range from $90 for a mature dog to about $275 for a puppy under six months of age. Adorable kittens may be adopted for $90, while the price for a cat over six months old is just $50.

Same day adoptions will be speedily conducted with the follow-up paperwork in hand: 1. proof of home ownership or a rental/lease agreement; 2. current pet vaccination history showing up-to-date rabies certification; and 3. human hearts brimming with love and a solid commitment to pet ownership. All adopters must be at least 21 years of age.

All newly adopted animals will leave the mall with an adoption package that includes a free veterinary exam certificate, a free bag of Science Diet food, a free training DVD and a bag of treats.